Kelp -- a type of brown algae -- grows up to two feet per day and is widely used in medicine, photography and processed foods. It grows along the shorelines of every ocean, including the Arctic and Antarctic and thrives in cool, temperate waters with low waves. Kelp has been eaten, both raw and cooked, for thousands of years.
Symptoms of Low Iodine
Iodine is a necessary nutrient that must come from dietary sources. Iodine deficiency leads to hypothyroidism and goiter. Prenatal iodine deficiency can lead to high blood pressure in the mother and mental retardation in the baby. Iodine deficiency is considered the most common preventable cause of mental retardation worldwide. It can also cause certain cancers, including thyroid, prostate and breast cancers.
Dietary Sources of Iodine
Most of the world's dietary iodine comes from iodized salt, seafood and seaweeds such as kelp. Much of the iodine added to foods such as salt is derived from kelp because it is plentiful and a good source of iodine. Fish such as cod contains approximately 99 micrograms, or mcg, of iodine per 3 oz. serving. Iodized salt provides 77 mcg of iodine per serving.
Iodine in Kelp
Seaweeds such as kelp provide 4,500 mcg of iodine or more per serving. The recommended daily allowance of iodine varies from 90 mcg per day for children to 290 mcg per day for breastfeeding women. Eating too much kelp could actually cause iodine overdose. Young children should not ingest more than 200 to 300 mcg per day, depending on age. Adults should avoid prolonged ingestion of more than 1,100 mcg of iodine per day, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Allergy to Kelp
Allergies to kelp are extremely rare. If you are allergic to fish or seafood, the iodine in kelp is not likely to be the trigger; an allergic reaction to these foods is triggered by the proteins in the flesh, not the iodine concentrated there. Reactions to iodine-based contrast dyes used in medical tests are not related to fish or shellfish allergies. If you are concerned that you are allergic to the iodine in kelp, speak to your doctor who will be able to help you work with a nutritionist to avoid health problems related to iodine deficiency.
